the wheel may be true, but the tire may wobble for a variety of reasons. flip your bike over and spin the wheel while watching the RIM. if the rim wobbles more than 1/8", they didn't do anything, probably.

as far as the brakes, go check out the Brakes subforum, and see if your question is answered there. those brakes should work quite well.

Take the tire off and give the wheel a spin. Often, tires aren't perfectly aligned. So you really can't tell if a wheel is true when there's a tire on it.

Also, see if you can rock the wheel laterally. You may feel a little flex, but you shouldn't get any play.

For the brakes, Avid mechanicals need a certain amount of maintenance. Check to see if your pads are worn out before you go further - just pull them out and have a look. There should be a relatively thick chunk of friction material on a metal backing. When the material gets too thin or wears down to the backing, the pad needs to be replaced. If the pads are in good shape, you may just need to tune your brakes better. Use the knobs on the sides of the calipers to adjust the position of the pads. If the brake rotor comes in contact with the caliper and not the brake pad, you get poor performance.

Listed on CL for $475, but the guy talked himself down to $350 (craziest thing). He claimed to buy it new and only ride it twice and it looks ever bit the part. I plan on upgrading some parts, so it will soon not fit in the <$400 thread, but at least it started out there...

Picked up a 2003 Jamis Dakar today, only $200.
I have heard lots of good things about this bike and am excited to start the upgrades. So for I have only replaced the WTB SpeedV saddle with a Retrospec, I removed the LONG 120mm stem and replaced it with a 70mm, and added some Shimano SPD clipless pedals (not pictured) Next are brakes, it already has dics hubs, going to go with Avid BB7's, then on to some wider handlebars, followed by new fork and shock.

Awesome ride

Picked up a 2003 Jamis Dakar today, only $200.
I have heard lots of good things about this bike and am excited to start the upgrades. So for I have only replaced the WTB SpeedV saddle with a Retrospec, I removed the LONG 120mm stem and replaced it with a 70mm, and added some Shimano SPD clipless pedals (not pictured) Next are brakes, it already has dics hubs, going to go with Avid BB7's, then on to some wider handlebars, followed by new fork and shock.

awesome find.....i have been looking for an old school jamis dakar as well..

This one was built by buying bikes on Craigslist, keeping the parts I needed and selling the frames and parts I didn't need. Parts came from a Cannondale 1fg, a nicely upgraded Turner and a Specialized Epic. My total out of pocket expense with one new tire, a chain and some cable housing is about $150. Not bad for a bike with Hope disks, King hubs and headset, Thomson post and stem, easton Monkeybar etc. And is sure rides good. I love a steel hardtail.